Last June 10, 2013, the Baltimore Sun reported on a waterspout that struck the Baltimore harbor and tossed pieces of a Locust Point warehouse’s roof into the air. Mathieu Lafleur, a crane operator at Rukert Terminals, witnessed the event. Lafleur, who was inside a crane at that time, recounted what he saw: “(The waterspout) looked farther away and then it made a turn toward us and that’s when it took off that roof.”
Richard Scher, spokesman for the Maryland Port Administration, confirmed that 5 percent of the 300,000 square-foot warehouse’s roof was torn off. Thankfully, no one was injured. Nevertheless, an incident like this makes you think about your own roof. Can you safely say that your roof is totally storm-ready, or will you need to call in Rockville, MD roofing professionals to make some repairs?
Storm-proofing a roof
To storm-proof your roof, you first need to identify the type of roof you have. Gable roofs in particular, are very much prone to damage from high winds. If you have a gable roof, strengthen it by installing additional braces at the rafters and gable ends. When a hurricane is approaching, make sure to seal the vents at the ends of your gable roof to prevent pressure from building up inside the home.
You can also have a qualified Rockville, MD roof repair contractor like Roof Masters install metal hurricane clips that attach the roof to the walls from the inside. This additional support can prevent your roof from being blown away by high winds. Metal hurricane clips are inexpensive and easily available, so have these installed as soon as you can.
The importance of inspection
Old roofs, especially those that don’t meet the requirements of the latest building codes, are highly susceptible to wind damage. Hurricanes usually pack winds in excess of 155 mph, which is strong enough to pull off shingles, tiles, and even the underlying roof deck. Have your roof inspected regularly and upgrade as necessary.
Another tornado was reported in western Howard County later that same night, which completely obliterated a shed. Don’t let this happen to you—have your roof storm-proofed along with the rest of your home.